Michael Brissenden presents AM Monday to Friday from 8:00am on ABC Local Radio and 7:10am on Radio National. Join Elizabeth Jackson for the Saturday edition at 8am on Local Radio and 7am on Radio National.

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Wednesday 5 June 2002

AM is Australia's most informative morning current affairs. It covers the stories each morning that the other current affairs teams follow for the rest of the day. Below is the program summary with links to transcripts and audio (if available).

David Ridsdale responds to Archbishop Pell

We go straight to David Ridsdale this morning and Sydney Roman Catholic Archbishop George Pell two days ago denied claims that he tried to bribe Mr Ridsdale into keeping quiet over a case of sexual abuse. Today Mr Ridsdale says he will release a written rebuttal of Dr Pell's version of events. Speaking from his home in the UK, David Ridsdale says he's been following the case on the internet and he says he can't allow himself to be discredited without making a further statement.

US Catholics release abuse policy

Outrage over sexual abuse in the Church has of course left its reputation in tatters in a number of countries, not least in the United States where American Catholic officials have now released a draft policy for dealing with future abuse allegations.

Aust withholds signature for International Criminal Court

Despite a long-standing promise delivered internationally that it would ratify the treaty to establish an international criminal court, the Federal Government has, at the eleventh hour, put its signature on hold as backbenchers complain that it'll erode national sovereignty.

Adler to take stand

Today is the day when Rodney Adler is expected to take the witness stand at the Royal Commission into the collapse of insurance giant HIH which left a shortfall currently estimated at $5.3 billion. Currently in the Royal Commission's sights is HIH's 1998 purchase of the insurance company FAI which has been nominated by the legal team assisting the Commission as a substantial cause of the overall collapse.

Almaty meeting

It could still be some time before the leaders of India and Pakistan sit down across a table but after the regional leaders' summit in Kazakhstan, some are very upbeat about progress in the bid to resolve the dangerous standoff over Kashmir.

Tiananmen square anniversary

If points were given for goodwill, China could have been expected to blitz their World Cup Soccer debut. That's not how it's measured though and it was a disappointment for Chinese fans when their team went down 2-0 to Costa Rica. Still, it was cause for celebration for China's communist leaders. Whether by chance or design the match coincided with the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, completely overshadowing any prospect of protests.

Changes to anti-terrorism legislation

Though the Federal Government has caved in in the face of a backbench revolt and watered down its proposed anti-terrorism legislation, it still may not be enough to ensure support in the Senate. The Coalition has abandoned plans to reverse the traditional onus of proof and it's limiting the Attorney-General's power to ban organisations he deems to be terrorist.

US Congress rakes over intelligence issues

US President George W. Bush today acknowledged failures within the American intelligence agencies before the attacks of September the 11th last year. Mr Bush says the CIA and the FBI failed to communicate adequately, though he's denied that they could have prevented the attacks. The issues are now being raked over in Congress, which today began hearings into why America's spies overlooked and ignored vital clues.

Job Network fraud

The Federal Department of Employment has revealed that the Director of Public Prosecutions is investigating five cases of alleged fraud by Job Network providers and one case of fraud is before the courts. The Government is defending the system but the Opposition says it suspects it's just the tip of the iceberg.

Gas stumble

A planned Papua New Guinea to Queensland gas pipeline project worth $6.8 billion is under threat today after the Queensland Government awarded a lucrative gas contract to a government owned consortium. Energy giant ExxonMobil was hoping to gain the contract for its PNG project to help fund the 3,000 kilometre pipeline.